Nurse - Eji

Soldiers in the Nara period. Part of the soldiers from each province's army went to the capital once a year and were stationed at the Ejifu and the Emonfu. The idea of ​​conscripting peasants as soldiers to guard the emperor and the imperial capital was unprecedented, and was one of the characteristics of the Ritsuryo military system. As a result, the core of the imperial guard was shifted from the previous Toneri class to the farmers who received land from the allotment of rice. There were about 2,000 Eishi, with 1,000 accompanying Kato (cooks for the Eishi). About 20% of the Eishi were stationed at the Emonfu, and the remaining 1,600 were stationed at the Eishifu. The Eishi were basically equipped with Udukuri Yokotachi and bows and arrows. There were three types of Eishi: cavalry, infantry equipped with bows and arrows, and infantry equipped with spears. The first two were mainly responsible for guarding the Imperial Palace, and were located within the Imperial Palace and Kyoto, with duties such as guarding the Imperial Guard, guarding important locations within the Kyoto area, patrolling the Kyoto route, accompanying the Emperor on journeys, and guarding important people.

[Noda Reishi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

奈良時代の兵士。諸国の軍団兵士の一部が1年ごとに上京し衛士府、衛門府に配備された。農民から兵士を徴発し天皇、帝都を衛守させるという考え方は、これまでになく、律令(りつりょう)軍制の特質の一つである。この結果、制度的には、天皇親衛軍の中核は、これまでのトネリ層から班田農民となった。衛士数は約2000、これに付随する火頭(かとう)（衛士の炊事役）1000。衛士のうち2割程度が衛門府に、残りの1600が衛士府に配備された。衛士の武器は、基本は烏作横刀(うづくりよこたち)と弓箭(ゆみや)。騎兵、弓箭装備の歩兵、槍(やり)装備の歩兵の3種があった。前二者はおもに宮城守衛にあたり、宮内、京中にあって、衛門、所部衛守、京内要地守衛、京路巡行、行幸供奉(ぐぶ)、要人警護の任についた。

［野田嶺志］

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